Iga Swiatek’s defeat against Coco Gauff, during the second match of the Masters, formalized the Belarusian’s first WTA place.
France Télévisions – Sports Editorial
Published on 05/11/2024 19:01
Reading time: 1min
Aryna Sabalenka at the Riyadh Masters against Jasmine Paolini, on November 3, 2024. (ARTUR WIDAK / AFP)
The new queen of tennis. After a year marked by two Grand Slam titles with the Australian Open and the US Open, Aryna Sabalenka is guaranteed to end the year number one in the world, after the defeat of the Polish Iga Swiatek (number 2) against the American Coco Gauff, Tuesday November 5, during the WTA Masters in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia).
In addition to the controversies over the choice of venue, the issue of the Masters was above all the number one place. Largely in the lead at the start of the tournament, with 1,046 points ahead of Iga Swiatek, the Belarusian had her destiny in her hands. Three victories at the Masters assured him his throne. But the 26-year-old right-hander could also take advantage of a defeat by her runner-up, the Polish Iga Swiatek, to validate her crown this season.
Aryna Sabalenka has been number one before, but she has never finished a season in first place. She succeeds Iga Swiatek, winner of the last two years, and becomes the second Belarusian to finish a year as world number 1, after Victoria Azarenka in 2012.
